Looking forward and looking back

I've had several people ask about Secret Stitcher so I thought I would tell you a little bit more about it.  It's an activity our Guild does for those who want to participate.

Sometime around the first of December we fill out a form that lets the person you are paired up with know your likes and special dates (birthday, anniversary, etc).  Throughout the year you randomly send your person gifts (floss, charts, fabric, embellishments, maybe something made by you, etc.).  You usually you try not to let more than a couple months pass between mailings but you can send more often if you wish.

At the end of the year we have the big "reveal" at the Christmas party by stitching your person a Christmas ornament.  I try to make sure to I stitch my name or initials on the back of my ornament.  The ornaments are hung on a special Secret Stitcher's tree separate from the exchange ornaments.

When the person in charge pulls your ornament off the Secret Stitcher's tree, she will ask "who made this ornament?"  You go forward and take the ornament from her and hand it to your Secret Stitcher.  This is how your Secret Stitcher finds out who has been sending her random gifts all year long!

I also like to make an ornament for the person who has been sending to me as a little thank you.  You don't have to do this but I think it's a nice thing to do.  This is the second year I've participated.  I'll most likely do it again next year if the guild still wants to do it.

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Since I can't show you my recent ornament finishes I thought you might like to see what I stitched last year both for my person and for the person who sent to me.

This is what I made for my Secret Stitcher, who happened to be Jenny!

I added the words for Merry Christmas in Swedish to make it extra special just for her.

Design:  Scandinavian Julbok

Designer:  Unknown from JCS Nov/Dec 1988

Fabric:  28 ct. Lambswool

Floss:  DMC as charted

Started:  7/11/10

Finished:  7/11/10

This is my thank you for the person who had me as her Secret Stitcher, who happened to be Paula!

Design:  Christmas Heart

Designer:  Mary Garry's Sewing Cabin

 from JCS 2000 Ornament Issue

Fabric:  32 ct. cream scrap

Floss:  GAST Pine & Pomegranate

Started:  9/18/10

Finished:  9/24/10

Completed:  11/24/10

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You might be wondering what the looking forward part of this post is all about.  One month from today I'll be another year older!  I really can't believe another year has almost passed.  Where does the time go?!

Thanks so much for stopping by for a visit.  I really do enjoy each and every comment you take the time to leave for me.  They make me smile!  I hope everyone's week is off to a roaring start.

Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

P.S.  The looking forward part is also a hint reminder for a certain someone with whom I share a home and who is now reading my blog.  Ahem!

A non-traditional Turkey Day

My hubby aka Mr. Destructo and I had a non-traditional Turkey Day.  My hubby works opposite hours I do and every other Saturday.  As you can imagine, this arrangement makes home improvement projects especially difficult.  When we get the opportunity and good weather, we take advantage of long holiday weekends to try to bust out the necessary project or two.

So without further ado, we have the "before:"

Yes, Mr. Destructo has already gotten started in this picture.

Here we have "during destruction."  I was going to post a picture of the back of Mr. Destructo at work but I didn't think he'd appreciate that.  Love ya honey, mean it!

Ta-da!  Completed project!  Just in time to beat the weekend rain.

Seriously, when we took out the old door there were just a few rusty nails holding it in place.  No wonder the foyer was always cold!  I can't believe what a difference the new door makes.  That added window really lets in a lot more light than I thought it would too!

While we were working, look who came by to check us out!  This red dragonfly stayed on the bricks next to the door for a good long while warming itself no doubt.  I think it is a sign of good luck.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

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I know most of you didn't stop by to hear me blather on about home improvement.  I actually did get some ornaments done.  Yep, I got three more ornaments completed as in ready to give away done!

Unfortunately, I can't show them to you yet.  There are too many folks who belong to both the guild and Tiara Club that read the blog and I don't want to ruin the surprise for them.

You'll have to come back another day to see them.  Be sure, I will post them!  I didn't put all that work into them not to show them off eventually dontcha know!

***

Well that's the update from my world.  I hope things in yours are good too.  It was hard jumping back into the routine today after five days off.  I could get used to staying home.  Oh well, I have to work to pay for my stitching addiction!

Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

Happy Thanksgiving!

For the bounty of  the year,

For our loved ones far and near,

For the sweet Thanksgiving cheer,

I give Thanks.

- adapted from a vintage post card in my collection.

I'm going to take some time today and reflect on what I am thankful for.  I hope everyone who celebrates Thanksgiving has a great day today.

Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

The Thread Basket SAL - DONE!

Design:  A La Belle Etoile

Designer: C Mon Monde

Fabric: 32ct Cobblestone

Floss:  DMC as charted

Week 4 Started: 11/14/11

Week 4 Finished: 11/20/11

I hope everyone had a good weekend.  I'm happy to report stitching with the peeps on Friday was a blast!  Not much stitching got done as I kind of expected.  We were a really rowdy group.  I drove home with my cheeks and belly sore from laughing.  Whoever said laughter was good for the soul certainly knew what they were talking about.  I seriously needed to laugh like that!

I wrapped up the weekend watching the NASCAR race and finishing up the Thread Basket SAL.  I really enjoyed stitching this one.  The deadlines were a new experience and I can safely say I've not busted out this much stitching in such a short time ever.  I'm proud of what I accomplished in these past four weeks.

I'm not sure how this one will be finished.  Christie suggested a pillow finish.  It is a good size for that.  We'll have to see what feels right when the time comes.

Speaking of NASCAR, how about that finish?  Wow, that was the best race I've ever watched!  It will be one for the ages.  Folks are going to be talking about that race for years.  I love a good car race, especially when my man wins both the race and the championship.  Congrats Tony!!!

Well folks, we are looking at a short work week in my world!  I work tomorrow and then I have five glorious days off for the Thanksgiving holiday!!!  I am anticipating lots of ornament stitching.  Well, that is after my honey and I put in our new front door.  Yep, I bet you didn't know I was a carpenter's apprentice as well as a stitcher.  I'm multi-talented dontcha know!

Until next time,

The Inspired Stitcher

Inspiration in the hallway

You know you've been stitching a lot when you see a flier in the hallway and think "that would be a good cross stitch pattern."  Yep, that's what ran through my head when I saw this flier advertising a study abroad opportunity.  I snatched it off the bulletin board, made a scan and printed it out for the "to stitch sometime" binder.  Yes, I put the original back on the bulletin board too!

I couldn't resist.  Those who know me know I'm a huge Francophile and anything with the Eiffel Tower usually catches my eye.  This particular one just screamed "stitch me."  It just goes to show you should always keep your eyes open to inspiration. It can come to you in the strangest places and sometimes on your way to the bathroom!

I'm kicking off the weekend by going stitching with my peeps tonight.  It's our monthly Tiara club get together.  We always have a ton of fun.  Whether I get much stitching done remains to be seen.  It will all depend on how much socializing I do and how rowdy we get.  It's all good either way.

Have a good weekend everybody!

The Inspired Stitcher

First Ornament Finish

Design: Christmas Tree

Designer: Prairie Schooler (mini card)

Fabric: 28 ct Natural Light Jobelan

Floss: DMC as charted

Started: 11/1/11

Finished: 11/6/11

Completed:  11/13/11

 

Finally, I've finished my first ornament for the season!  It took me a while to percolate on just how I wanted to finish this one.  I finally decided on flat.  Husband said from the beginning is should be flat and several commenters did too.  So I went with it.  I also decided to go simple and not do any frou-frou.

 

I tried a new-to-me finish this time too.  I had already back stitched around the design in case I decided to do a stuffed finish.  The method I ended up doing came from the back of the latest JCS Christmas Ornaments issue.  I whip stitched the back stitches around three sides leaving the bottom open.  Then I glued some batting to a square of mat board that was cut about an eighth of an inch (about 3 mm) smaller than the stitched piece.  Once it was dry I carefully slid it into the open end and stitched it closed.

 

I actually like this method better than the way I've done it in the past and will most likely do this again.  It would be really easy to add beads to the edges as you go along doing it this way too.  You could also go back and stitch on some type of trim or twisted cord this way too.

 

And to think I procrastinated on this one.  Silly me!

 

Hope everyone had a good weekend.  Welcome to my new followers and thanks to all for stopping by today.

 

Until next time,

 

The Inspired Stitcher

The Thread Basket SAL - Week 3

Design:  A La Belle Etoile

Designer: C Mon Monde

Fabric: 32ct Cobblestone

Floss:  DMC as charted

Week 3 Started: 11/8/11

Week 3 Finished: 11/11/11

I wanted to do a quick post tonight.  Week #3 of The Thread Basket SAL is done!  Now I've got the rest of the weekend free to stitch on other things. Yep, I'm doing the Snoopy Dance!

For those that don't know what a "Snoopy Dance" is, check out the video below.  It pretty much sums up how I feel tonight! 
 

"Snoopy Dancing" my way into the weekend,

The Inspired Stitcher